While talking about the family life cycle, it will not be possible not to mention Duvall because the first version was developed by Duvall. The deadlines for the stages are not certain and differ within families. The four phases of the cycle;
- Married couples
- Families with young children
- Families with children in adolescence
- Families with adult children
It is in the form.
The life style of families established by couples begins to change with having children. They have now taken on the role of parents. As children grow, interests and processes within the family begin to change. These extended families shrink as children leave home in the role of young adults. When the last child leaves the house, the period called “empty nest” begins. Retirement also affects family life and causes it to enter a different period. Together with these changes and the steps taken, crises may occur within the family. All these phases are taken into account in the family reinforcement process, and crises related to life cycles are carefully differentiated. The specific crises of each life cycle and the procedures for approaching these crises differ.
Newly married couples may have inconsistency problems. Factors such as trouble getting used to new roles, family and upbringing differences can create crises at this stage.
When we look at couples with small children, we see that they now take on the role of parents. Differences in life with children, increase in responsibilities, etc. circumstances affect this process.
Families with children in adolescence are now valued as having reached the end of size. All individuals live in one-to-one housing. Adolescent conflicts, generational conflicts are common in this period. Parents should be at the top of the power hierarchy and accept that adolescents are on the way to becoming an independent individual.
Families enter the mid-life cycle with adult children leaving the home. Especially mothers can falter a lot during this period. Especially the menopause period, which occurs with middle age, strengthens the mother’s troubles. Spouses have a lot of free time in this period, which is also called “empty nest”. Therefore, they can find more time to take care of each other or their hobbies. However, at this point, problems may arise in the middle of the spouses as the children, who serve as triangulation in the relationship, move away.
On the other hand, families in the advanced period are those in which the last child also leaves the residence. Tensions are eased as the children build their own lives. Now, it is possible to talk about the old age period in individual life cycles for spouses. Now spouses focus entirely on their interests and expectations. According to studies, women accept the separation of their children from the house more easily than men. They cope with this situation more easily.
